Grace Gardner

By editor

Created 11/13/2012 - 1:50pm

Mrs. Grace Cox Gardner, 91, died Friday, November 9, 2012 at her residence in Starkville.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012 at First Baptist Church of Starkville with Rev. Eli Gardner officiating.
Burial will follow in Saulsbury Cemetery in Saulsbury, Tenn.
Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, 2012 at Welch Funeral Home.
Welch Funeral Home of Starkville is in charge of arrangements.

Grace Gardner was fondly and lovingly called Mama Grace by all who knew her.

Besides loving all her children (those related or not), Mama Grace loved reading, studying, teaching, sharing, fellowshipping, praying and worshipping Father, Son and Holy Spirit. She led hundreds if not thousands of girls and women in searching out God’s mysteries, ways and perfect will. She was always surrounded by “her girls” usually around the kitchen table.

Through the 1970s, 80s and 90s, Mama Grace was a primary caregiver for those in need in her family. She nursed her father and mother until they died. She nursed her mother-in-law until she died. She nursed her husband through 8 years of Alzheimer’s Disease, her daughter through several years of cancer and numerous other friends and family through countless heartaches. She buried her husband (Milburn “Bo” Gardner Jr.) and two beloved children (Skip and Beth) way too soon.

Though she led so many to faith in Christ and into spiritual maturity, Mama Grace never considered herself a leader. She was always a fellow traveler seeking all those things that “work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Her goal in life was “more of Him and less of me.” She truly sought God’s will in everything. She was a good and faithful servant in every way. She was the epitome of Proverbs 31:10 – 31.

In all her ways she acknowledged God, and God surely directed her in His way.

Mrs. Gardner is survived by her son, Danny Gardner and (Becky Rae) of Starkville; daughter-in-law, Norma Gardner (Skip); and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The family requests in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made to charity of choice.